Install a technical room in the garage? Is this possible?

What exactly does it mean in consequence if it lies outside the thermal envelope?

It costs you money; both as a one-time and recurring expense; the installation of the heat generator within the thermal envelope saves more than 10 kWh/(m2 · a). There is, among other things, a well-written technical article** by the IHKS on this topic. An excerpt from it states:

In addition to the insulation of the building envelope, the insulation of the building services systems in particular contributes to realizing the energy-saving potential in the building sector. Unfortunately, this is often neglected because it is mistakenly assumed that a well-insulated building envelope is sufficient to use energy efficiently and thus save energy. For the energy efficiency of a heating system and thus of the entire building, not only heat generation but also heat distribution is crucial. Large energy losses occur due to uninsulated-insulated pipe insulation and fittings. As studies insulated have shown, the annual heat loss caused by uninsulated-insulated distribution pipes insulated and fittings in the basement area (outside the thermal building envelope) can account for up to a quarter of the annual heating energy consumption of a residential building.

Now imagine your heat generator standing in an uninsulated-insulated room; we assume, however, that the freely accessible pipe insulation-insulated is insulated as intended. What if frost prevails outside or even just temperatures around 5°, which is not so rare?

The heating system is not in the garage then, right, or how should I understand "borderline garage"? It would be a separate room after all.

I have answered f-pNo’s question. A separate room outside the clearance areas should always be insulated analogously to the rest of the building envelope to accommodate the heat generator.

**Source: IHKS - "Pipe Insulation – An Important Factor for Reducing Energy Consumption" by Dipl.-Ing. Michaela Störkmann

Rhenish greetings

So that means: If we should do it that way, then the room must also be insulated as well as the pipes? If this is done properly (which will be more expensive in terms of the costs for the house), are there any other aspects that speak against this solution for you? Would it be alternatively conceivable to put the room completely in the attic? Above the living area there will be the sleeping area and above that there is another floor. Since we have to make a gable roof anyway, maybe the technology could also be concentrated there?

Would it alternatively be conceivable to place the entire room in the attic? Above the living area will be the sleeping area, and above that there will be another floor. Since we have to build a pitched roof anyway, could the technology possibly be concentrated there as well?

As a layperson, I would like to raise two points here:
1. Often, the insulation of the upper floor is done over the ceiling and not directly on the roof rafters. If your building is constructed that way, you will have the same effect as placing the heat generator in an uninsulated outdoor space. Alternatively, you could also install the insulation directly on the roof (rafters). However, you then enlarge the room to be heated (the pitched roof), which probably results in higher heating costs. From my point of view, insulation directly on the roof makes sense if you plan to convert the attic into living space now or later.
2. Without knowledge of the weight of the heat generator, etc. – it could be that the structural integrity needs to be checked again if the heat generator is placed in the attic (possibly it needs to be built "more robustly"). Many houses with pitched roofs or similar have a ceiling made of beams, rafters, and plasterboard (correct me if I’m wrong). Concrete ceilings are more commonly known to me from houses with flat roofs.

From my point of view, it would make sense to insulate directly at the roof if you plan to convert the attic into living space now or later.

Hello,

it must then also be strictly taken into account that the fully insulated attic needs to be ventilated regularly (preferably twice a day).

Otherwise, you might quickly have severe mold problems there.

Regards,

Dirk

So does that mean: if we do it that way, then the room must also be insulated and the pipes as well?

Yes. We don’t build any other way at all; if the client wants a different execution, we waive the contract for work.

Would it be alternatively conceivable to put the room completely into the attic? Above the living area would be the sleeping area and above that would be another floor. Since we have to build a pitched roof anyway, could the technology possibly be bundled there?

That is a better idea. You have the attic anyway; since according to the Energy Saving Ordinance insulation must be installed above the last ceiling, the costs of the insulation are included in every offer. The insulation of the roof rafters is somewhat more expensive, as there is more surface area than insulating on the floor; you can easily clad with gypsum board in EL. The consequences thereof:

[*]The structural engineer must check whether the wooden beam ceiling is sufficiently load-bearing [*]You must provide ventilation – this can be done via double casement windows [*]Precaution must be taken in case the domestic hot water tank could leak. That means a tray must be placed under the domestic hot water tank; alternatively a tray under the compact unit. [*]Access to the attic must be larger than usual BET allows; provided the original staircase does not lead into the attic. Because eventually the heat generator must be replaced, and that is hardly possible via a normal BET.

Rhineland greetings

The consequences are:

[*]The structural engineer must check whether the wooden beam ceiling is sufficiently load-bearing
[*]You must ensure ventilation – this is done via double casement windows
[*]Take precautions in case the domestic hot water tank could leak. This means a tray must be placed under the domestic hot water tank; alternatively, a tray under the compact unit.
[*]Access to the attic must be larger than usual BET allows; provided the original staircase does not lead to the attic. Because at some point the heat generator must be replaced, and that is hardly possible through a normal BET.

In the end, do these measures (possibly the structural engineer will also determine that the ceiling needs to be reinforced) not cost more altogether than insulating an exterior technical room and the pipes?

- Additional costs for structural engineer (possibly additional measures)
- Additional costs for windows
- Additional costs for tray
- Additional costs for staircase compared to the normal floor hatch stairs
- plus possibly additional heating costs (due to larger modifications/insulated space)

The double casement windows would then possibly also have to be electronically controlled by sensors, since the builder does not necessarily always have time to ventilate.
Of course, all this makes sense if you intend to convert the attic anyway (then it would only be the additional costs for the tray).



Off topic: 600th post